Lead Story

Fifty years into his career of studying marketing, Leonard Berry continues to garner accolades. The Mays Business School leader is only the second person in history to receive the “Big 4” national marketing awards – a grand slam of sorts.

Berry is a University Distinguished Professor of Marketing, Regents Professor, Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence, and holder of the M.B. Zale Chair in Retailing and Marketing Leadership at Mays Business School,

He received the fourth prestigious award, The Sheth Foundation Medal for Exceptional Contribution to Marketing and Practice, during the American Marketing Association (AMA) Summer Academic Conference on Aug. 10. …Read more

Graduates of the Mays MBA program are getting more bang for their buck, according to a recent issue of Business Week. The magazine’s “Best B-Schools” issue ranked the MBA program as having the best return on investment, or ROI, particularly when it comes to careers in marketing. Figures released in the biennial rankings show that Mays MBA graduates who chose careers in marketing could earn back their educational investment faster than graduates of any other U.S. business schools. The program was also touted as having the sixth fastest payback for MBAs, regardless of career choice, as compared to other programs nationwide.

“Texas A&M has relatively low tuition costs, especially for Texas residents,” said Dan H. Robertson, director of the MBA program. “Students who choose Mays for their MBA can potentially leverage a modest investment into a very attractive starting salary.”

David M. Szymanski has been appointed director of the Center for Retailing Studies (CRS) by Dean Benton Cocanougher. Szymanski served as associate director of the CRS from 1997-2000 under founding director Leonard L. Berry. Szymanski, a professor of marketing and retailing, has been recognized by the Mays College as the Outstanding Researcher in 1993 and received the Association of Former Students’ Outstanding Teacher Award for the Mays College of Business in 1994. The CRS was created in 1983 as a liaison between the academic and business communities.

The real-world focused Mays Executive MBA Program is proving to be a hot commodity at a host of Fortune 500 companies. The modular and integrated curriculum program – one of the few MBA programs of its type in the nation â€” is generating a high degree of interest, noted John Dinkel, director of the program and associate dean for graduate studies.

“More than twice as many applications were received for the available positions this fall,” Dinkel said. “We’ve literally been overwhelmed. In fact, we’re already reviewing applications for the class starting in August 2001.”

Aimed at mature professionals with significant and progressive managerial experience, the Executive MBA Program provides knowledge participants can immediately use on their jobs, Dinkel emphasized, noting that their companies have been highly supportive.

Key positions within the college have been filled, including naming Ricky Griffin executive associate dean. Griffin, who joined Texas A&M in 1981, formerly served as department head in the Department of Management and director for the Center for Human Resource Management. He is the Lawrence E. Fouraker Professor of Management.

Angelo DeNisi replaces Griffin as the department head in the Department of Management. DeNisi, who joined Texas A&M in 1997, also serves as the director for the Center for Human Resource Management. He is the B. Marie Oth Professor of Management.

In addition, Clair Nixon has been named associate dean of the Mays College. Nixon will oversee the college’s undergraduate programs, information technology, and communications. He also is the PricewaterhouseCoopers Accounting Excellence Professor.

“I think the career fair was very successful this year. The companies were very pleased with the number of students who attended and were impressed by the quality of students,” said Nicholas Schoolar, a senior finance major and vice president of the career fair.

“The students were able to walk through the halls of Wehner and learn about a wide range of companies, from banking and accounting firms to retailers and technology companies. A lot of students also went to the reception, which allowed them to talk to the recruiters on a more informal level.”